As if bullying isn't terrible enough in the moment, it turns out that victims of childhood bullying may still suffer its negative effects far into adulthood.

New research in the American Journal of Psychiatry finds that people who were bullied in childhood had more psychological distress at ages 23 and 50, and higher rates of depression, anxiety and suicide than their peers who weren't bullied. That's even after the researchers controlled for other factors known to be correlated with bullying victimization. Ack, just thinking about bullied kids -- and the adults they grow into -- is totally breaking our hearts!

In a release, senior study author Louise Arseneault, of King's College London, stated: "We need to move away from any perception that bullying is just an inevitable part of growing up. Teachers, parents and policy-makers should be aware that what happens in the school playground can have long-term repercussions for children. Programs to stop bullying are extremely important, but we also need to focus our efforts on early intervention to prevent potential problems persisting into adolescence and adulthood."

And if you were bullied as a kid and feel you may still be suffering, we urge you to get help right away. You can started with our Get-Happier Resource Guide.